Fraternities and sororities play an integral role in campus life at Rensselaer. In fact, Greeks have an exceptionally long history at Rensselaer, with the first fraternities being established soon after the founding in 1824, and several Alpha chapters still in residence today. As Rensselaer strives to build a Greek program that is a national model of excellence, the current Rensselaer Alumni Association leadership has taken an active role in promoting a robust and productive discussion on Greek life at Rensselaer. In order to recognize this important aspect of campus life, they’ve created the RAA Community Service Award for Greek Life.

The award is designed to recognize a fraternity or sorority that is involved with community service and philanthropic activities, and it includes a $1,000 donation in the winners’ name to a charity of their choice. The inaugural recipient is Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity, which volunteered for more than 1,000 hours of community service in the past year. Activities included participation in World Aids Day; renovation of the Frear Park Ice Skating Rink; an annual Neighborhood Rake-A-Thon; participation in the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life; and “PIKES Presents,” which raised over $1,200 to provide holiday gifts to student in grades K-3 at a local school. Pi Kappa Alpha elected to donate the $1,000 award to the American Cancer Society.

The RAA presented Pi Kappa Alpha with a $1,000 check, which they donated to the American Cancer Society. (Photo by Kris Qua)

The award, presented during intermission at a men’s hockey game, helps to promote the good work done by Greek organizations on campus, and acknowledges the hours the organizations invest in the Rensselaer and Troy communities. It also helps demonstrate the RAA’s and the Institute’s commitment to Greek life on campus.

“We are honored to have received the inaugural RAA Community Service Award for Greek Life,” said Phi Kappa Alpha president John Whalen ’08. “Our chapter has worked hard over the last year and it is nice to be recognized. We really appreciate the RAA’s support and relish the opportunity to be positive ambassadors for the entire Greek community.”

In addition to the Community Service Award, the RAA supports Greek life through the Alumni Inter-Greek Council, which was formed as a committee of the RAA to help build a stronger connection between Greek alumni and current Greek students.